Conservation
Belle Isle Estate has been designated locally and by the EU as an Area of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation, and an Environmentally Sensitive Area. Preservation standards are high and guests find the island wonderfully unspoilt. The team at Belle Isle are determined to promote awareness and make a positive contribution to the local environment through their daily activities.
efforts towards promoting
sustainability include:
- Installation of a wood pellet boiler to heat the castle and its hot water in 2006, ensuring that a percentage of Belle Isle's energy comes from a sustainable source. This project received a capital grant from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, through Action Renewables, Innovative Demonstration of Wood Heating and Heat Pumps Scheme. The boiler was installed by Rural Generation Ltd of Londonderry (www.ruralgeneration.com) and the wood pellets are supplied by Balcas Limited, Co. Fermanagh (www.Balcas.com)
- Recycling paper, plastic, and glass
- Commitment to installing low-energy lighting wherever possible and gradual conversion of all fittings
- Ensuring that the castle's boilers are serviced annually and operating at over 90% efficiency
- Monitoring of electricity and water consumption and the setting of annual targets for reduction
- Allowing the District Council to weigh all waste and set annual targets for reduction
- Using organic and local produce in the cookery school, thereby reducing food miles and supporting Northern Ireland farmers and small businesses
- Establishment of a staff green committee that regularly discusses environmental aspects of the business
- Arrangement for 47% of th castle's electricity to come from a renewable source provided by Airtricity, thereby lowering the carbon footprint
- Building three containers for organic waste behind the cookery school and using the compost in the gardens
- Installation of wood-burning stoves in all cottages and apartments that use sustainable timber from the estate
- Undertaking an extensive tree-planting program to reduce the overall carbon footprint
- Establishing a sightings' record to monitor animals such as otters and badgers
- Publishing walking guides for the estate, including one for children, with information about local flora and fauna
